Hamilton's Jim Hoey retires from baseball after 10 professional seasons

Courtesy of Jim Hoey
Former Hamilton High and Rider University pitcher Jim Hoey poses in a Baltimore Orioles jersey after the AL East Club took him in the 2003 MLB Draft. Hoey, also an accomplished web developer, played 10 professional seasons before announcing his retirement on Monday.

But after 10 seasons of professional baseball, the Hamilton High and Rider University product has finally decided to step down and pursue a career in web development. He is making his announcement on Monday via Facebook and Twitter.

Hoey said a “very difficult decision” was made easier by the fact he was offered a position by The Healthworks Group, a marketing/branding firm in Newtown, Pa.

“I went ahead and did what I needed to do in order to pursue that career,” said Hoey, who has designed several websites the past three years. “This off-season I still wasn’t sure if I was retiring. I put some resumes out there and some feelers and wound up last Monday getting the job.

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“I figured I’m getting older, I’m 31. I’m looking forward to the next part of my career and looking to start it earlier than I would if I continued to play.”

After pitching Hamilton to a state championship in 2000, Hoey had two strong seasons at Rider before being drafted by Baltimore in 2003. He was in the Orioles chain for eight years before going to Minnesota in 2011.

Hoey pitched parts of three different seasons in the Major Leagues with a 4-7 record and 7.02 ERA for the Orioles and Twins. His last appearance in the majors came in 2011 at age 28 with Minnesota, when he went 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA.

After that, he threw in the minors with Toronto in 2012 and Milwaukee at the start of 2013, but injury led to a terrible start and he was released after 49 appearances.

“At the beginning of spring training I pulled my groin and I was unable to push off,” he said. “I asked my coach what I was throwing one day and he said ‘87, 88, 89.’ My jaw dropped. I didn’t have any idea of how much of an impact that would have. I was 10 miles an hour off what I usually threw.

“It wasn’t even my arm. It was a simple leg injury and I’m sitting in the high 80s. I was starting to get a little nervous, like ‘What the heck is going on? My arm feels great.’”

He was released, but Hoey has baseball in his blood and refused to pack it in. He joined the Somerset Patriots and went 1-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 43 relief innings. The Patriots came within one victory of the Atlantic League title.

“I’m actually proud of just playing with that team in general,” Hoey said. “You get released from one team; you can get down on yourself. But I actually had the most fun I’ve had in a while playing baseball.

“It would have been great to go out with a championship. But that team will always be a memory of a lot of fun. And it was in New Jersey, at home, so you don’t get a chance to do that a lot.”

In looking back on what he is proudest of, Hoey said making to the majors tops the list, but also the friendships he has made with players from around the world.

“I enjoy everything about the game, from the travel to friends and teammates,” he said. “There’s not very many places you can get that atmosphere and camaraderie.”

Hoey enjoyed it so much, he was ready to come back for another year in an attempt to return to the majors. He thinks he can still pitch, but getting a start on his second career was too enticing.

“It was an extremely tough decision, and I didn’t want to make it,” Hoey said. “It’s crazy how much can change in a year. It’s that quick. The fact I got a job I actually liked to do, I’m happy that it happened that way. I’m happy to transition into the next phase of my life.”

Part of that phase is the Jim Hoey Charity Golf Tournament at Old York Country Club, which he holds every Columbus Day. This year it will be in Oct. 13 and the proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project. Details can be found at www.jhcgolf.com.

Last year’s tournament was a sellout, and Hoey plans to continue it despite going from the athletic world to the business world.

He has no regrets about the past decade, which was made somewhat difficult by various health ailments and surgeries. He would never have given it up were it not for his new job.

“I probably would have started off with the Patriots this year,” he said. “In this sport you always have to prove yourself. I would have had to prove myself again. If I had the same start as I had last year I would have had to prove myself someplace else.”

When it comes to giving all he had to the game, however, Hoey has nothing left to prove.